Abstract
This study aimed to explore how autistic children form the lives of people who were raising them through life stories shared by caregivers. The research participants included 11 Vietnamese caregivers who were taking care of children diagnosed with autism. A preliminary interview prior to the study was conducted to determine caregivers who would participate in the research and in-depth interviews were carried out with volunteer caregivers. To determine aspects of life stories that shape caregivers’ lives, the study implemented the "Life Story Interview" list. Grounded theory and the constant comparative method, effective research strategies were used to collect and analyze the data. Interviews were conducted in the Vietnamese language. As a result, 6 broad categories of themes were identified related to caregivers’ life stories: (1) psychological consultation, (2) emotions, (3) worries, (4) duties, (5) essential virtues, and (6) hopes. Analyses exposed that although caregivers whose children were autistic underwent a wide range of challenges in their daily lives and had concerns for the future of children, they did a big shot to reorganize their family lives, required themselves highly, and never stopped hoping for a better life.
Highlights
American Psychiatric Association, 2013 identified autism as “Autism Spectrum Disorders” (ASD), a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that starts very early in life
Following are these themes and sub-themes with a direct quotation of what caregivers said so that transmissibility could be fully supplied (Baker et al, 1992)
The interaction with psychologists in ASD diagnosis may leave an important influence on how the families face with the child’s disability
Summary
American Psychiatric Association, 2013 identified autism as “Autism Spectrum Disorders” (ASD), a severe neurodevelopmental disorder that starts very early in life. The delay and deviance in social interaction and relationships, in communication and language, as well as in restricted interests and repetitive behaviors are the main impairments (Faja & Dawson, 2006). Research has revealed that it is harder for families to cope with the ASD diagnosis result than that of other disabilities (NeelyBarnes et al, 2011). The autistic child shapes his family’s viewpoint of life and beliefs for the future (Nealy et al, 2012). Families with autistic children usually have a variety of challenges such as unexpected stress, constant health problems, necessary consultation about intervention and education from many psychological experts, difficult disclosure about disorder status of children, and anxieties about their kids’ future. Because of so much energy, finance, and time required during helping children, many families experience crisis (Neely-Barnes et al, 2011)
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